The contents of the latest issue of:

International Journal of Sociotechnology and Knowledge Development (IJSKD)

Official Publication of the Information Resources Management Association
Volume 2, Issue 2, April-June 2010

Published: Quarterly in Print and Electronically

ISSN: 1941-6253 EISSN: 1941-6261

Published by IGI Publishing, Hershey-New York, USA

www.igi-global.com/ijskd

Editor-in-Chief: Elayne Coakes, University of Westminster, UK

BOOK REVIEW

Handbook of research on Socio-Technical design and Social networking Systems

Reviewed by Magda Hercheui
http://www.igi-global.com/Files/Ancillary/IJSKD%20bookreview%202(2).pdf

PAPER ONE

Exploring Meaning The Implications of a Hyphen for Socio-Technical Theory and Practice

Elayne Coakes (University of Westminster, UK)

Jim Coakes (University of Westminster, UK)

In this paper, the authors explore the hyphenated spelling variant on papers taken from the Business Source Complete (BSC) repository. This paper finds that the hyphenated spelling variant is popular with more recent authors and that in total, socio-technical article publishing has recently recovered from the relative decline of the 1980s and 1990s. Within the socio-technical area, the topics of Work and Technology are receiving increased attention and studies of Behaviour, Change and major Stakeholder Groups are waning. The authors have critiqued the articles that indicated in their BSC Subject terms that their contents are related to Methodology but have found that few actually consider the socio-technical methodologies. Systems and socio-technical theory papers are critiqued, including papers by Enid Mumford and her work. Also discussed are lessons learned when using online repositories, such as the need to save search results to manage the surprising level of volatility of such academic databases. Finally, opportunities for future analysis are discussed, including trends; changes of emphasis within topics; researching into other academic search engines; and US based analysis.

To obtain a copy of the entire article, click on the link below.

http://www.igi-global.com/Bookstore/Article.aspx?TitleId=43565

PAPER TWO

Achieving Best Practice Manufacturing Involving Tacit Knowledge through the Cautious Use of Mixed-mode Modelling

Miles Nicholls (RMIT University, Australia)

Barbara Cargill (University of Melbourne, Australia)

In the real world, ‘optimal’ solutions for many production process problems do not exist. In such circumstances, ‘best practice’ is the realistic outcome for which practitioners aim. The reasons for this stem from many causes, including that data associated with production processes are often corrupted and/or missing. These types of processes usually rely heavily on the subjective input of the process workers on the shop floor (tacit knowledge). This paper outlines how the use of mixed-mode modelling has been utilised to help solve these types of problems. The industry examples used in the paper incorporate the concept of Communities of Practice (CoPs) in the mixed-mode models that are developed as a means of capturing tacit knowledge and incorporating it into the solution process. Additionally, CoPs need to sit comfortably within the culture and values of the organisation and employee groups, and must be clearly owned and facilitated by the community of workers whose knowledge is to be shared. Finally, CoPs should be presented as opportunities to share, compare, and learn so that a ‘craft’ is not lost or diminished.

To obtain a copy of the entire article, click on the link below.

http://www.igi-global.com/Bookstore/Article.aspx?TitleId=43566

PAPER THREE

Towards a Knowledge-Based Economy – the Case of Botswana A Discussion Article

Bwalya Joseph (University of Botswana, Botswana)

Botswana is keen to position itself as a knowledge-based economy as early as 2016 due to the realisation that to compete on a global scale, efficient knowledge value chains must be put in place, which includes indigenous knowledge management systems. This realisation is primarily caused by falling demand in the price of diamonds (due to the world’s recession), which is the country’s current economic mainstay. Today, Botswana is pushing for further economic liberalisation and diversification by employing and encouraging novel frontiers of knowledge with emphasis placed on research and efficient knowledge management as a vital resource for national development. In Botswana, the role of scientific and technical knowledge is being emphasized as the main driver of sustainable development, but not forgetting the potential contribution of indigenous and mythological knowledge to this aim. Several initiatives have been devised or implemented by both the government and the public sector to position Botswana as a knowledge-based economy. This paper surveys the fundamental concepts on which this paradigm shift is based and brings out the different initiatives that have been undertaken while emphasizing the role of research and efficient knowledge management paradigms in shaping Botswana as a knowledge-based economy.

To obtain a copy of the entire article, click on the link below.

http://www.igi-global.com/Bookstore/Article.aspx?TitleId=43567

PAPER FOUR

The Change Equation

Peter Duschinsky (Imaginist Company, UK)

In this article, the author investigates the nature of complexity and its role in project failure. Also, the paper proposes a model to assess complexity. It draws some conclusions about the implications for change management interventions. The author finds that projects fail when the complexity exceeds the capability of the organisation to cope. The overall aim of the article is to offer an approach to reducing this number of failed change projects.

To obtain a copy of the entire article, click on the link below.

http://www.igi-global.com/Bookstore/Article.aspx?TitleId=43568

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For full copies of the above articles, check for this issue of the International Journal of Sociotechnology and Knowledge Development (IJSKD) in your institution's library.  This journal is also included in the IGI Global aggregated "InfoSci-Journals" database:  www.infosci-journals.com.
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CALL FOR PAPERS

Mission of IJSKD:

The International Journal of Sociotechnology and Knowledge Development will provide both a practical and comprehensive forum for exchanging research ideas and down-to-earth practices which bridge the social and technical gap within organizations and society at large.

Coverage of IJSKD:

The International Journal of Sociotechnology and Knowledge Development will look for practical sociotechnical approaches that can assist practitioners, academics, researchers, and students. It will encourage interdisciplinary texts that discuss current practices as well as demonstrating how the advances of - and changes within - technology affect the growth of society (and vice versa). The aim of the journal is to bring together the expertise of people who have worked practically in a changing society across the world for people in the field of organizational development and technology studies including information systems development and implementation.

Appropriate themes might thus include (but are not restricted to), a sociotechnical perspective on:

Knowledge management systems

Systems failures

Implementation issues of change and technology

Design and technology development issues including requirements and stakeholder participation

Innovation

Knowledge sharing;

HRM issues for innovation and knowledge sharing

Technology and its role in society and organizations

Culture and trust within organizations and their relevance to technological artifacts

Critical success factors (and key performance indicators) for organizations and technological implementation

Organizational change

Performance and quality of working life

Information systems development

The influence of human factors on operational efficiency

The relevance of the worker’s perspective

Empowerment and team development

Managing organizational knowledge as a strategic asset

Using knowledge management principles to solve organizational performance problems

Learning organizations

Humanistic redesign and technological politics in organizations

Quality assessment of computer information systems

Social aspects of automation

Sociotechnical systems

Technological Forecasting and Social Change;

Technology in Society

E-government and democracy as affected by technological change
Applied Ergonomic

Interested authors should consult the journal's manuscript submission guidelines at www.igi-global.com/ijskd.

 All inquiries and submissions should be sent to:
Editor-in-Chief: Elayne Coakes at coakese@westminster.ac.uk